Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A sensor network comprising; a first plurality of sensors; a first base station; and a first series of switching devices, each switching device comprising: an upstream port; a bus coupled to the upstream port; a downstream port; a sensor port connectable to the bus; a first switch coupled to the bus and the downstream port; and a switch controller coupled to the bus and the first switch, the switch controller responsive to signals received from the upstream port to selectively connect the bus to the downstream port and disconnect the bus from the downstream port; wherein the first series of switching devices includes a first switching device and a last switching device, the upstream port of the first switching device is coupled to the first base station, the downstream port of each switching device, except the last switching device, is coupled to the upstream port of a next switching device in the first series of switching devices, and sensors of the first plurality of sensors are connected to sensor ports of the switching devices in the first series of switching devices.
A sensor network consists of a group of sensors, a base station, and a series of interconnected switching devices. Each switch has an upstream port, a bus, a downstream port, and a sensor port. Sensors connect to these sensor ports. The switches are daisy-chained: the downstream port of one switch connects to the upstream port of the next, forming a chain from the base station to the last switch. A switch controller in each switch manages data flow. It can selectively connect the bus to either the downstream port (passing data along the chain) or disconnect it, based on signals received from the upstream port, allowing the base station to communicate with individual sensors.
2. The sensor network according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch of at least one switching device of the series of switching devices comprises an SPDT switch, and the sensor port is coupled to the SPDT switch, wherein the SPDT switch has a first state that connects the bus to the downstream port, and a second state that connects the bus to the sensor port.
In the sensor network described previously, at least one switching device utilizes an SPDT (Single-Pole Double-Throw) switch. This switch connects the internal bus to either the downstream port or the sensor port. This allows the switch to alternate between forwarding network communication down the chain or enabling communication with a sensor connected to that specific switch. The SPDT switch has two states: one connecting the bus to the downstream port, and another connecting the bus to the sensor port.
3. The sensor network according to claim 1 , wherein at least one switching device of the series of switching devices further comprises: a second switch coupled to the switch controller the bus, and the sensor port, with the switch controller responsive to signals received from the upstream port to selectively connect the bus to the sensor port and disconnect the bus from the sensor port.
In the sensor network described previously, at least one switching device contains a second switch controlled by the switch controller. This second switch selectively connects or disconnects the internal bus to the sensor port. The switch controller responds to signals received from the upstream port to manage this connection, enabling or disabling communication between the bus and the sensor connected to that switching device. This allows finer-grained control over sensor data access.
4. The sensor network according to any of claim 1 , 2 , or 3 , wherein at least one switching device of the series of switching devices further comprises: an integrated sensor coupled to the bus; and memory readable from the upstream port and storing data characterizing the integrated sensor.
In the sensor network described previously, at least one switching device has an integrated sensor directly connected to its internal bus, along with memory. This memory stores data that describes or characterizes the integrated sensor. The data within this memory can be read by a device accessing the switch through the upstream port, enabling identification and configuration of the integrated sensor. This provides self-describing sensor capabilities within the network.
5. The sensor network according to claim 1 , and further comprising: a second plurality of sensors; a second base station; and a second series of switching devices; wherein the second series of switching devices includes a first switching device and a last switching device, the upstream port of the first switching device is coupled to the base station, the downstream port of each switching device, except the last switching device, is coupled to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices, and sensors of the second plurality of sensors are connected to sensor ports of the switching devices in the second series of switching devices, and wherein each switching device of the first series of switching devices is associated with a rack of a first set of racks, and each switching device of the second series of switching devices is associated with a rack of a second set of racks, and racks of the first set of racks are interleaved with racks of the second set of racks.
The sensor network includes two sensor groups, base stations, and switch series. The second series has the same daisy-chain structure as the first, and links to its base station. Each switch in both series connects to sensors. Physically, the racks holding the switches from the two series are interleaved (alternating racks from the first and second switch series). This interleaving helps optimize physical space utilization when the network spans a number of equipment racks in a data center or similar environment.
6. A method of discovering switching devices in a series of switching devices, and sensors attached to the switching devices, wherein each switching device has an upstream port and a downstream port, the series of switching devices is formed by coupling the downstream port of each switching device, except a last switching device in the series of switching devices, to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices, the method comprising: signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from the downstream port; determining whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; if a previously undiscovered switching device is present: reading and recording data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to connect a bus to a downstream port; and branching to determining whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; and if a previously undiscovered switch is not present: recording a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices.
A method for discovering switching devices and their attached sensors in a daisy-chained network starts by instructing the switches to disconnect the internal bus from their downstream ports. The system then checks for the presence of a new, previously undiscovered switching device. If found, sensor data is read and recorded. The switch is then instructed to reconnect its bus to the downstream port, and the process repeats, checking for more undiscovered switches. If no new switch is found, the last discovered switch is marked as the final device in the chain. This is a discovery mechanism for the entire network.
7. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising; before reading and recording data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device, signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to connect the bus to sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; and after reading and recording data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device, signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to disconnect the bus from sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device.
Building on the previous method for discovering switches and sensors, before reading sensor data from a newly found switch, the switch is instructed to connect its internal bus to its connected sensors. After the sensor data has been read and recorded, the switch is instructed to disconnect the bus from the sensors. This process ensures that sensor data is actively accessible only during the data reading phase, improving data integrity and reducing potential conflicts on the bus.
8. The method according to any of claim 6 or 7 and further comprising: after recording a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices: pausing for a period of time; and branching to signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from a downstream port.
Expanding on the switch and sensor discovery method described previously, after marking the last switch in the chain, the process pauses for a specific duration. Following the pause, the entire discovery process restarts from the beginning: switches are signaled to disconnect from their downstream ports, and the search for undiscovered switches begins again. This periodic rediscovery ensures that the network configuration is up-to-date, even if changes occur (e.g., new switches are added) after the initial discovery.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from a downstream port comprises: issuing first commands to the switching devices to cause each switching device that receives the first commands connect the bus to the downstream port; determining whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; if a previously undiscovered switching device is present, branching to issuing first commands to the switching devices to cause each switching device that receives the first commands connect the bus to the downstream; and if a previously undiscovered switching device is not present; issuing second commands to the switching devices to cause each switching device to disconnect the bus from the downstream port.
In the method for discovering switches and sensors in a network, the step of instructing switches to disconnect the bus from the downstream port is accomplished through a two-command process. First commands are issued, intended to cause all switches receiving them to connect their bus to the downstream port, testing for new switches. If a new switch is present, the first commands are re-issued. If no new switch responds, second commands are issued to force all switches to disconnect their bus from the downstream port, effectively isolating each switch to allow sensor discovery.
10. The method according to claim 6 wherein signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from a downstream port comprises: issuing N first commands to the switching devices to cause each switching device that receives the first commands connect the bus to the downstream port, wherein N is equal to or greater than a maximum number of switching devices in the series of switching devices; and issuing second commands to the switching devices to cause each switching device to disconnect the bus from the downstream port.
The process of instructing switches to disconnect their bus from their downstream port involves issuing a specific number (N) of "connect" commands to the switches, followed by "disconnect" commands. N is set to at least the maximum number of switches expected in the chain. The "connect" commands are sent to ensure all switches initially have the bus connected to the downstream port. Then the "disconnect" commands are sent so each switching device disconnects the bus from the downstream port and allows for sensor data to be read.
11. A manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage media encoded with a program set of computer-executable instructions, said program set for causing a base station to discover switching devices in a series of switching devices, and sensors attached to the switching devices, wherein each switching device has an upstream port and a downstream port, the series of switching devices is formed by coupling the downstream port of each switching device, except a last switching device in the series of switching devices, to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices, the program set of the manufacture comprising: signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from downstream port; determining whether a previously undiscovered switching device present; if a previously undiscovered switching device is present; reading and recording at the base station data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to connect a bus to a downstream port; and branching to determining whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; and if a previously undiscovered switch is not present; recording at the base station a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions for a base station to discover switches and sensors in a daisy-chained network. The instructions cause the base station to tell switches to disconnect the bus from their downstream ports. It then checks for a new switch. If found, sensor data is read and recorded. The switch is told to reconnect to the downstream port, and the process repeats. If no new switch is found, the last one is marked as the final switch.
12. The manufacture according to claim 11 and the program set further comprising: before reading and recording at the base station data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device, signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to connect the bus to sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; and after reading and recording at the base station data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device, signaling the previously undiscovered switching device to disconnect the bus from sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device.
Building on the previous computer-readable medium, the stored instructions further cause the base station to instruct each newly found switch to connect its bus to its sensors before sensor data is read, and to disconnect the bus from the sensors afterward. This ensures sensor data is actively accessible only during the reading phase, preventing conflicts.
13. The manufacture according to any of claims 11 and the program set further comprising: after recording at the base station a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices: pausing for a period of time; and branching to signaling the switching devices to disconnect a bus from a downstream port.
Expanding on the previous computer-readable medium, the stored instructions also cause the base station to pause after marking the last switch in the chain, before restarting the entire discovery process. This periodic rediscovery ensures that the network configuration remains up-to-date.
14. The manufacture according to claim 11 and the program set further comprising: transmitting from the base station to a data center environment controller data characterizing the sequence of switching devices and sensors read by the base station.
The computer-readable medium described previously contains instructions that cause the base station to transmit data to a data center environment controller. This data characterizes the sequence of switches and sensors that were discovered by the base station. This enables the data center controller to maintain an accurate and updated inventory of the sensors and their locations within the sensor network.
Unknown
August 5, 2014
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